Shrink-wrap and like packaging



March 3, 1970 R. A. STEVENS SHRINK-WRAP AND LIKE PACKAGING Filed Nov. 14. 1967 \I v- A INVENTOR R0) ALBERT STEVENS BY PE/VDLETO/V, NEUMA/V ATTORNEYS United States Patent US. Cl. 206-65 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A partition structure for locating an assembly of jars or similar containers on a tray as in a shrink-wrap package, consists of a sheet of cardboard slit and creased such that when folded upon itself there is formed a partition for insertion between two adjacent rows of containers with integral lateral tabs adapted to engage between the containers in the said rows.

In modern shrink-wrap and similar packaging technique it is the practice to locate a number of bottles, cans or like containers upon a base plate or tray by means of an enclosing sleeve of plastics or other material. Where cylindrical and similar straight-sided bottles and cans are concerned they can be assembled close together and when the shrink-wrapping is applied the resultant pack has considerable rigidity and a flat upper surface such that the packs can be readily stacked for storage and/or display purposes. However, when packing tapering bottles or similar containers, the outer rows of a pack tend to tilt inward under the shrink application of the enclosing sleeve with the result that the upper surface of the complete pack comprises two or more sections angularly-disposed to each other. This can prevent stacking of the completed packs or, if packs with screw capped containers are stacked in this condition, the pressure on the rims of the caps can, with vibration, result in loosening or unscrewing of the caps. The present invention provides means for retaining tapered and similar irregular-shaped containers in a vertically-disposed position during application of the shrinkwrap whereby a pack is obtained having a fiat upper surface with the advantage of ability to stack and security against loosening of caps.

According to the invention means for the purpose mentioned comprises a partition structure formed by providing a sheet of cardboard or like material with one or more medial crease or score lines and folding the sheet upon itself, slits or cut-outs being provided at each side of the score line whereby, when the sheet is folded, laterallyprojecting tabs are formed of such size and spacing that when the device is placed between two rows of containers, the'tabs engage between the containers in said rows and locate the containers in vertically-disposed positions.

Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate one embodiment of the invention devised for use with a pair of eight bottles or jars and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the blank,

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the device in its folded operative position, and

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of FIG. 2.

The partition structure or device shown consists of a rectangular sheet 1 of cardboard having along its medial zone two parallel crease or score lines 2 spaced for example about one quarter inch apart, this distance depending upon the shape and form of the containers being packed and the arrangement being such that when the side panels 3 are folded downwards about the narrow central panel 4 3,498,450 Patented Mar. 3, 1970 ice a narrow structure of inverted triangular cross-section is formed. Extending from each crease line 2 into the adjacent; panel 3 at regularly-spaced intervals is a series of slits or cut-outs 5 defining tabs 6 which remain integral with .the central panel 4 and project laterally when the structure is folded to its operative position. Thus there is obtained a rigid partition structure which can be inserted between two adjacent rows of containers, the structure having spaced tabs at each side thereof which engage and locate containers against tilting or lateral displacement.

The shape of the tabs will depend upon the form of the containers. In the drawings the device is shown in use in a pack of circular jars or bottles indicated at 7 and supported on a tray 8 for shrink-wrap packaging, the tabs 6 have concave side edges to conform to the necks of the containers, but for squaresection bottles, the tabs would have angled or chamfered side edges. In use, these partition structures not only locate the containers during the application of the shrink-wrap but, by subsequently retaining the containers against movement, ensure a very rigid structure which will stack easily.

I claim:

1. A spacer for use in a package having a plurality of containers therein comprising a sheet of cardboard or the like having an elongate center panel and opposed projecting tab portions coplanar with said center panel, and extending from and integrally formed with opposed longitudinal edge portions of said center panel; side panels connected with said center panel along fold lines extending along said longitudinal edge portions and angularly disposed to said center panel; said center panel and side panels being adapted to form an elongate member having a triangular sectional configuration.

2. The spacer of claim 1 in which said side panels are substantially equal in size and uniform in configuration, and said projecting tabs are arranged in pairs at spaced intervals along the length of said center panel.

3. In a package construction, a tray, a plurality of containers or the like having tapered end portions and supported in aligned rows in close-packed relation on said tray, spacer means disposed between said aligned rows of containers or the like; said spacer means having an elongate center panel of rectilinear peripheral configuration and tab portions projecting fromand integrally formed with opposed parallel edge portions of said center panel; side panels joined to said center panel along fold linesv extending along said center panel parallel edges and downwardly disposed between said aligned container roWs; said tab portions being cut out from said side panels and substantially coplanar with said center panel; opposed parallel edge portions of said center panel engaging tapered surface portions of said containers or the like whereby said containers are maintained in parallel alignment; said projecting tab portions being disposed between the aligned containers or the like of each row and being of such size as to maintain the interval between containers or the like of each row uniform.

4. The package construction of claim 3 in which the edges of said tab portions disposed between the containers of each row conform with engaged peripheral portions of said containers.

5. The package construction of claim 3 in which said tab portions in the normal position of use engage peripheral portions of said containers downwardly extending toward a maximum container diameter whereby said spacer means is prevented from falling between said rows of containers.

6. The package construction of claim 3 in which a plastic sleeve is shrunk about the package components where- 3 4 by such containers or the like are urged against edge por- I FOREI GN PATENTS 011s sald SPacct means- 7 900,975 7/1962 Great Britain.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,361,926 11/1944 Brogden 229 52 2,563,132 8/1951 Paige 229 42 2942 3,338,406 8/1967 Anderson 206-65 WILLIAM T. DIXSON, 111., Primary Examiner 

